Patients in the Great Southern can now receive urological treatment closer to home, saving them
the time, cost and inconvenience of travelling to Perth.
HBF has supported Albany Day Hospital to purchase new equipment which means urologists can increase the range of
procedures they perform at the facility. This includes two state-of-the-art procedures
known as transperineal prostate biopsy and the Urolift System.
HBF Executive General Manager - Health, Dr Daniel Heredia, said patients would be saved the time and cost of travel
to Perth and the inconvenience of receiving treatment and recovering far from home.
"This is a strategic partnership to ensure the hospital can deliver complex procedures more cost effectively for
our regional members," he said.
A team of specialists from Perth Urology Clinic currently travels to Albany every four weeks, with five surgeons
consulting at the Great Southern Specialist Centre and operating from Albany Day Hospital, which is owned by
Montserrat Day Hospitals.
"Being able to offer these procedures is a valuable addition to the great service we already provide to the
Albany community," Montserrat General Manager WA Brendon Ball said.
Perth Urology Clinic surgeon Dr Matt Brown performed the first transperineal prostate biopsy at the hospital in
April. A biopsy of the prostate gland is usually required when there is a suspicion of prostate cancer.
"This is a far more accurate, quicker, comfortable and state-of-the-art procedure than the traditional method
with a lower risk of infection," he said.
"Rather than patients having a minimum of 16 individual needle punctures, it's reduced to just two.
"A number of urologists in Perth aren't performing this type of biopsy so for it to be offered in Albany is a
significant benefit to local residents."
Perth Urology Clinic surgeon Dr Shane La Bianca carried out the Urolift System procedure at the hospital in May - the
first time the procedure had been performed in regional Western Australia. The Urolift System is a
minimally-invasive procedure to treat lower urinary tract symptoms due to benign prostatic hyperplasia (also known
as an enlarged prostate, the non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate which naturally occurs as men age). The
condition is one of the most common urological diseases among men and symptoms have a significant impact on quality
of life. Treatment options traditionally include medication or surgery to remove part of the prostate tissue - both
of which can have unpleasant or inconvenient side effects.
Patient Jim Seymour (59, of Albany) said he was pleased the hospital had the equipment necessary to conduct the
Urolift System procedure.
"It's fantastic - my support network is in Albany so it would have been inconvenient going to Perth. I had the
surgery on a Wednesday and was back at work on Friday, so there was very little down time," he said.
Contact: Lauren Underhill, HBF Corporate Affairs, CorporateAffairs@hbf.com.au / 0438 925
050